Sports Games for Kids
"The game may only last a few hours, but the memories we make last a lifetime."
2018
Street Cars and Sweet Bars Pub Crawl for Charity! 4/27/19
On Saturday, April 27th, 2019 we hosted our first ever Sports Games for Kids Fundraiser Pubcrawl. We selected several great bars conveniently located along the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar route including: 16-Bit Bar & Arcade, Taft’s Ale House, O’Malley's in the Alley, Blind Pig, Jefferson Social, Tin Roof, The Drinkery, Mr Pitiful’s, and Rhinegeist.
Cincinnati Soccer Talk Annual Footgolf Classic Fundraiser 8/25/18
Please mark your calendars for 8/25/18! Though no specific details have been released about this year's fundraiser yet, the two previous CST Footgolf Classics have been a ton of fun! There have been appearances from FC Cincinnati front office staff and players, split the pot raffles, and basket raffles with amazing items.
Cincinnati Reds 7/20/18
Back at Great American Ballpark to watch the good guys take on the Pittsburgh Pirates! This is also fireworks night! We are hoping for a hasty victory so even those of us with early bed times can watch an awesome fireworks display after the game!
FC Cincinnati 6/16/18
In June we went back to Nippert to see the boys in Orange and Blue take on the Richmond Kickers! The event started off with an awesome "Pregame Pizza Party Picnic" (and we challenge everyone to say that three times fast). Papa Johns delivered pizzas to McMicken Commons where we had table cloths laid out for families to picnic on! During the picnic, we unfurled our Mini-Tifo so that all of our new guests could sign it! For an even bigger surprise, Tyler Gibson made a surprise visit! The kids were so excited to meet a real-life professional soccer player! He instantly made some new friends, before he had to go back to the locker room with the team. Next, Cincy Super Fan led the kids into the stadium to await the famous “Supporter’s March” and taught them some of the more popular FC Cincinnati cheers along the way. When the march arrived, the kids joined in and even got to cheer along with the other supporters! We marched straight to our seats, which had been very generously saved by the Sparks family (thank you Sparks family)! We unfurled our Tifo after the national anthem, and it could be seen across the stadium! The players on the field didn’t disappoint, and scored four goals, each goal (and the start of the match) was followed by plumes of smoke rising from the Bailey (another highlight for the kids). After the match, the remaining kids (who didn’t have to get to bed) got to get autographs from some of the players on the sidelines! The kids were also excited to see their new friend, Tyler on the pitch after the match! Another successful event in the books for SGFK! We’re looking forward to returning to Nippert in August!
Cincinnati Reds 5/20/18
May is Foster Care Month, so we worked with two local foster care agencies, Necco and Lighthouse Youth Services, to bring foster care families to a Reds game! We were so excited to be back at Great American Ballpark! For this event, we also had a very special guest volunteer, FC Cincinnati mid-fielder, Tyler Gibson! He was a huge hit with the kids, and a great help to us handing out our t-shirts, snacks, and in-game meal! Our snacks were the famous “Power Stack Snack Packs” which were a combination of snacks prepared by our board members. As always, the fire that shot from the power stacks in center field after every strike out by a Reds pitcher was a highlight for many of the kids. The kids were also great at our cheers! We were so loud, people from sections away were joining in with us to cheer on the Reds! Unfortunately, our favorite baseball team was unable to defeat the Cubs for this game, but we still had so much fun! It was another great event, and we can't wait for our next Reds game in July!
Cincinnati Cyclones 2/9/18
We said we'd be back soon, and so we returned! Children from the Lighthouse Youth Services Foster Care program joined us for this special day! This was Marvel Superhero Night, and we came prepared! When the kids arrived, they all received their souvenir t-shirt like always, but this time, they also received a mask and cape! They may not have all been Marvel heroes, but we hope comic book fans can forgive us for that, because the kids loved them! Special thank you to Aramark who, once again, made our in-game meal so easy by providing discount drinks and delivering both the drinks and pizzas to our section! Once again, the kids loved the pregame fire during player introductions.
2017
Cincinnati Cyclones 12/9/17
The final event of 2017 was a ton of fun! We went to Bank Arena to watch the Cincinnati Cyclones take on the Tulsa Oilers. This night was made even better by the Star Wars theme of the game! In addition to our usual souvenir t-shirts, we gave the kids special Star Wars masks to wear for the game. Before the game even started, the kids were in awe of the huge pillars of fire that shot into the air during the player announcements. During the game, the kids loved hearing the CRASH of the glass when players were slammed into the wall. We all shared some pizza and drinks early in the game (which is ALWAYS a hit) and then had popcorn to snack on for the third period. We had so much fun, despite a loss on the ice and we hope we can return again soon to see our favorite hockey team!
Florence Freedom Combination Kids Event and Fundraiser 8/11/17
This was our first ever cross-over style event! We purchased 100 tickets from the Florence Freedom fundraiser program. We sold tickets at the game-day rate which raised funds for our program. Additionally, we were able to hold a split the pot raffle during the game to raise more funds! Any unsold tickets were provided to Necco Foster Care, to bring foster families to the game! We had a lot of fun at the game while also raising funds, a double win (or rather a triple win, when the Freedom won on the field!) We hope that you can join us in the future at the next Florence Freedom fundraiser!
FC Cincinnati Event 6/10/17
For this group event we provided tickets to families from both the Lighthouse Youth Services Foster Care Program and the Dragonfly Foundation! This event was one of our largest yet! To kick off the day, we had a pizza party on the commons outside the Tangeman University Center. While we ate, Cincy Super Fan and some of his friends from the Bailey taught the kids some of their favorite cheers so the kids could join in during the match! After eating we all entered the stadium and join the supporters for their march around the stadium's interior. The kids had a lot of fun chanting along with the veteran supporters. After their short march, the kids found their seats in the General Admission section, opposite from the Bailey. They loved watching the wild supporters and the smoke bombs that were lit. After the National Anthem, the kids then revealed their very own Tifo! At halftime we provided gatorades, nachos, and popcorn for everyone in our group. These snacks were provided to us at a large discount courtesy of the very generous staff with Aramark. When the match ended, FC Cincinnati was gracious enough to allow our group down onto the sideline of the field, where they were able to meet players and get autographs! We have received numerous messages from the families who joined us, letting us know that the kids still continue to sing along to our chants when they watch matches, or hear about FC Cincinnati. Thank you to everyone who made this possible including: FC Cincinnati, Aramark, our volunteers, and all of our very generous supporters and sponsors!
Cincinnati Reds Event 5/21/17
This was a fun day down at the ballpark for many families from Lighthouse Youth Services, in celebration of Foster Care Month! The kids arrived early at the front gates, where we dispensed their shirts! Learning from previous events, we kept their snacks together, to hand out once we've found our seats. So after greetings and pictures, we entered the stadium and spent a little time at the Reds Fan Zone, playing on the Jungle Gym and whiffle-ball field. As the time for the first pitch neared, we found our seats. Once again, we learned from our past events and chose seats under cover! It was a nice to be in the shade while we watched our Redlegs take on the Rockies! It was extremely nice of Joey Votto to provide the kids with some mid-game fireworks after he hit a homerun in the 6th inning! The kids chanted along with Cincy Super Fan as the Reds fought for a win. Unfortunately, they were unable to pull out a victory, but that did little to diminish the fun we had!
FC Cincinnati Season Ticket Matches!
In 2017 we have begun a new program by purchasing 5 season tickets for FC Cincinnati seats in the Bailey so that we can bring families to matches! These matches will differ from our typical events since only one family will attend each match. .
4/19/17
The Oesting family joined us for a fun night to watch FC Cincinnati take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies! Unfortunately, since it was a Wednesday match, they were unable to attend the pre-game fun and the march, but once they arrived, they had a lot of fun singing and dancing in the Bailey as FC Cincinnati fought to a 1-1 draw.
4/22/17
The Montgomery family joined us for this match against Louisville City FC. Since this game was on a Saturday, they were able to join in on the pre-match fun! At 5 they met Cincy Super Fan (CSF) at Ladder 19, the FC Cincinnati Pub Partner and Pre-Match home of The Pride (one of the original FC Cincinnati Supporter's Groups)! SGFK purchased dinner for the family, and CSF delivered their new souvenir T-shirts! At 6:15 the pre-match march arrived at Ladder 19 and the Montgomery's were excited to join in! The kids were amazed at the march that filled the entire street and stretched so far they couldn't see the front or back! Once they arrived at the bailey they were visited again by CSF who took their Half Time snack orders. The kids enjoyed all the singing of the SGs and watching the match. At Half Time CSF returned with their snacks and talked to them about the match so far. Fortunately, in the 78th minute, Aodhan Quinn delivered FC Cincinnati's only goal of the night for a 1-1 draw. The kids loved seeing all the smoke and the excitement of the Bailey. Yet, their night didn't end at the 90th minute (or the extra minutes following)! The kids joined CSF down by the pitch, to get autographs from many of the FC Cincinnati players! It was an unforgettable night, and we hope to repeat this event many times in the future! See the pictures from the night, as well as messages from Mrs. Montgomery and our contact at the Dragonfly Foundation, Hannah! Sliger!
2017 Weekend of Fundraisers!
Bucketheads / Bailey Bastards Fundraiser
On March 25th, 2017 Bucketheads Bar and Grill and the Bailey Bastards (an FC|Cincinnati Supporter's Group) hosted a wonderful FC Cincinnati season kickoff party and raised over $800 in just 3 hours!
Scene-75 FUNdraiser!
On March 26th, 2017 we enjoyed one of our favorite fundraisers! It was very successful and raised over $1,400 in only 4 hours!
Thank you To all who attended our fundraisers!
Cyclones Games For Kids
February 25th, 2017 we revisited US Bank Arena to watch our Cyclones take on the Indy Fuel! This night featured the added bonus of being Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Night! To match the theme of the night, we made sure every child who joined us for the game also got a TMNT mask to wear. The kids had a lot of fun, and were once again impressed with the Cyclones' indoor pyrotechnics at the start of the game. The kids loved seeing the TMNT at the game. Once again, Aramark was very kind in providing easy access to food and drinks for the kids. We enjoyed Donato's Pizza and Hawaiian Punch and Sunkist as our in-game meal, as well as buckets of popcorn that we shared together! The popcorn also doubled as extra entertainment, as some of the kids and Cincy Super Fan had fun tossing and catching popcorn in their mouths. The kids enjoyed seeing the players get slammed into the glass and together they cheered "Let's Go Cyclones" with Cincy Super Fan. They also loved getting on the jumbotron, and helping Cincy Super Fan choose the correct donut during the Dunkin Donut's Hidden Puck game! We all had so much fun at this event, and we can't wait for our next Cyclones Games for Kids event!
2016 Sports Games for Kids events!
Cyclones Games for Kids
December 3rd, 2016 was our first ever Hockey game! As an early Christmas present, we purchased 85 tickets, drinks, pizza slices and t-shirts! For this event we worked with Bethany House Family Services and Light House Youth Services to bring homeless children and foster children out for a game! Before the game started, our group sang God Bless America, which was a lot of fun, though next time we'll remember to practice! The kids loved the indoor pyrotechnics as the players entered the rink. We are extremely grateful for the support we received from Aramark's Fifth Third Bank Arena's Manager, Bubba, who saved us from waiting in line with all of the kids to get their drinks and pizza! The kids were also excited to build their own can-pyramid out of Sunkist and Hawaiian Punch cans! During the second period, they got a surprise visit from the Dark Knight himself, BATMAN! They loved getting their picture with the superhero and talking with him for a bit during the game. During one of the breaks, they enjoyed watching all of the stuffed animals being thrown on the ice for the Cyclone's Teddy Bear Toss! It was a lot of fun and we hope to revisit the Cyclones for future games!
FCCincinnati Games for Kids
August 24th, 2016 we officially began our FCCincinnati Games for Kids division! This event benefitted children from both Children's Hospital as well as orphans in Lighthouse Youth Services foster care program! The event began at Tangeman University Center where the children received their awesome new shirts (design created by Joseph Hollon and shirts produced by 513 Shirts). The kids enjoyed a pizza dinner before the game. At 6, some of the children entered the stadium to take part in the Supporters Group's pregame march around the stadium. The kids loved joining the march, and talked about it for the rest of the game! Meanwhile, some children preferred to stay behind to create their own beautiful posters for the match! Everyone rejoined at their seats, were they discovered their next big surprise, a homemade tifo (designed by Joseph Hollon, painted by Die Innenstadt members at Schultz Studios)! They were excited to display their tifo after the National Anthem, and it was seen far across the stadium! Later during the game, all of the children signed their tifo, leaving their mark for future games. Of course, what match is complete without halftime snacks!? So the children all got popcorn or nachos and sprite or coke for the second half of the game! Any children who were able to stay after the match had a chance to get autographs from Kenny Walker! This event was so exciting, and we plan to have many more in the future!
Reds Games for Kids Event 2016
On August 21st we brought homeless families from Bethany House Services to a Reds game! We had so much fun together! We asked the kids their favorite part of the day and their answers were: Meeting the Cincy Super Fan, the snacks and drinks, the fire from the Power Stacks, getting on the Jumbotron, and the cheers!
Reds Games for Kids Event 2016
On August 19th we took families from Lighthouse Youth Services to see the Reds take on the Dodgers! The kids loved seeing the fireworks and watching the Reds get the win!
10th Annual Golf Scramble and Fundraiser!
Presented by Mason Pub & Grill and the Jung Insurance Agency, July 30th at the Beckett Ridge Golf Course!
This was such a fun event! Thank you to all who attended this golf fundraiser with us! The weather was perfect, the beer was cold and the food was delicious! Please join us again on August 5th, 2017!
Cincinnati Soccer Talk's First Annual FootGolf Classic!
Our friends at Cincinnati Soccer Talk hosted a wonderful FootGolf Classic on August 20th, with us as their benefitting charity and it was so much fun! We were joined by FCCincinnati players and Jeff Berding during the event. Many great prizes were awarded at the dinner party after the FootGolf portion of the fundraiser. Congratulations to the winning team from the Queen City Firm! Don't miss out on next years CST FootGolf Classic!
Reds Games for Kids Event - 2016!
On June 12th we provided over 80 tickets to Children's Hospital patients and their families! Children undergoing treatments were able to join us down at the ballpark for a day of fun to create special memories. The girls were crowned princesses by Miss Ohio Tourism 2016, Autumn Parker, while the boys were caped by our very own Cincy Super Fan! The kids loved their souvenirs and had a lot of fun cheering on the Reds!
Reds Games for Kids Event - 2016!
On May 22nd we celebrated Foster Care month with Lighthouse Youth Services Foster Care Program! We provided 50 tickets for children and their chaperones! It was a wonderful time and the children had so much fun! Their favorite parts were the snacks, the fireworks after the homerun, and learning the cheers!
Winter FUNdraiser! Sunday, March 13th from 12p - 8p
We had an amazing turnout at our Winter FUNdraiser at the Mason Pub and Grill (753 Reading Road, Mason, Ohio 45040)! We had a great crowd, played 3 rounds of Split the Pot, raffled off 12 baskets and an amazing painting, kids colored and danced to the DJ's music, and we even had a few brave enough to karaoke. We raised money to help us with our mission and had a great time doing it. We could not have done this without YOU and the amazing folks and companies who selflessly donated.
From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
Bearcats Games for Kids Event - 2016!
On Saturday, February 13, we took 32 children and chaperons from Cincinnati Children's Hospital to watch the UC Bearcats basketball team take on the East Carolina Pirates.
The kids and met us before the game on UC's campus to make posters, get the Bearcat "C-paw" painted on their faces, and enjoy a delicious meal from Patty Burger. The kids were also able to meet Lucy, the Bearcat. Everyone enjoyed the game, using their personally made posters to cheer the Bearcats to a victory!
We are constantly meeting very special people throughout our experiences. At this particular event, we met a family who has a heart of gold, even when their times are tough. After our event we received the following message:
"We just wanted to take a second to tell you Thank You for our experience today. To most, it might just be a game, but to our family it was so much more. We drive 8 hours just to come and get treated at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. So, a program like yours, becomes the highlight of our kids trip to the hospital. It allows them to forget about the doctor appointments, needles and endless hours at the hospital. But, even more inspiring is your story. Our kids have developed their own charity and to meet someone else that had a dream of making a difference and put it into action- was great and inspiring for our kids!"
We encourage you to please checkout their cause, Cheer 4 Savannah.
We are incredibly grateful and fortunate to have partnered with Patty Burger for this event and are very thankful for the generous donation of hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade chips and salad. We are also very grateful for UC Athleticsfor their donation tickets for this event. We truly can't thank you enough.
2015 BGFK EVENTS - Lighthouse Youth Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Sports Games for Kids - University of Cincinnati division (Bearcats Games for Kids (BGFK) took our first group to a UC Bearcats Football game! The game was attended on October 24, 2015 by Lighthouse Youth Services. UC athletic department was kind enough to donate all tickets and parking passes for our attendees. While it was a rainy and cold Saturday afternoon, our hearts were warm and the families smiles shined. We are thrilled to be partnered with UC! Stay turned for more from Sports Games for Kids and Bearcats Games for Kids!
2015 RGFK EVENTS - Children's Home of Cincinnati, Children's Home of Northern Kentucky, Lighthouse Youth Services
On April 26, 2015 we purchased tickets for 30 children and chaperones from the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky to attend a Reds game against the Chicago cubs. We cheered our hearts out on this cool, sunny day... unfortunately the Reds came up short, but that didn't impact the fun we had.
On May 31, 2015, in honor of National Foster Care month, we purchased tickets for 51 children and foster parents from Lighthouse Youth Services to attend a Reds game against the Washington Nationals. These groups of children and foster parents got their faces painted and played ball in the Fan Zone before rooting for the Reds in their sweep against the Nationals!
On June 10, 2015 we purchased tickets for 105 children and chaperones from the Children's Home of Cincinnati to attend a Reds game against the Philadelphia Phillies. This was our biggest group yet! We cheered the Reds on as we watched them win, and sweep the Phillies in the series closer!
On September 30, 2015 we had 54 tickets donated from fabulous and generous Reds season ticketholders, which allowed us to take a group from Lighthouse Youth Services as well as Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Unfortunately the Reds lost to the Cubs, but the kids helped cheer the crowd into receiving FREE pizza as our pitches had over 11 strikeouts.
This was a great ending to our season. We increased our number of events from one to four, and were able to provide over 200 children the complete Reds game experience. We are honored to have met and interacted with these amazing people. We couldn't have done it without the help of our supporters. THANK YOU ALL!
2014 EVENTS - Children's Home of Cincinnati
On July 10, 2014 we purchased tickets for 85 children and chaperones from the Children's Home of Cincinnati to watch the Reds take on the Chicago Cubs. This was our first outing, and will always hold a special place in our hearts. With all the fun that was had, we can barely remember that the Reds lost to the Cubs.
